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All applicants to the graduate programs in the Department of Biology are considered by the Graduate Programs Committee for financial awards and assistantships. Competition is very keen for financial awards. Applicants desiring a financial award are encouraged to have their application completed by 15 January. Late applications (after 15 January) will be considered for financial awards if any are available.

Currently about 95% of the department's graduate students are supported by teaching or research assistantships, by fellowships, or by hourly employment.

Admission to the graduate program in the Department of Biology does not guarantee financial support; however, the Department of Biology will not normally accept a student without financial support.

Fellowships and scholarships may be offered through the School of Graduate Studies, the College of Science, or the Department. Availability of awards can vary annually.


Fellowships include the Presidential Doctoral Research Fellowships ($20,000/year for 4 years with a tuition award), the Martin Luther King Fellowships ($7,000 for one academic year with a tuition award), and the Dissertation Fellowships ($5,000 for the academic year with a tuition award).

Scholarships include two awards for tuition costs, the Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship and the Seely-Hinckley Scholarship.

Supplemental funding includes Graduate Student Travel Awards, ASUSU Research and Project Grants, and Graduate Enhancement Awards.

The College offers several supplemental awards at the end of each academic year, including the Lawrence H. Piette Graduate Student Scholarship and the Claude E. ZoBell Scholarship . The Willard L. Eccles Foundation Graduate Fellowship is offered periodically ($ 18,000 per year for 3 years).

are available from research funding of major professors and are awarded by the individual faculty members. Contact faculty members in your area of interest for additional information.

are assigned by the Co-Directors of Graduate Studies and are approved by the Department Head. All teaching assistants are required to participate in the Training Workshop sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies prior to beginning the assistantship.

  • Teaching Assistantships are limited and are awarded competitively. All students admitted under matriculated status will be considered for a teaching assistantship.
  • Appointments are for one year only (Fall and Spring semesters) and require reapplication each year. Students making satisfactory progress are normally appointed for 2-3 years for the MS degree or 4-5 for the PhD.
  • Current academic year (9 months) wages are $1,500 per month for Master's students and $1,666 per month for PhD students. Teaching loads are typically a maximum of 20 hours per week.
  • Teaching Assistants are required to sign a contract. The contract will be sent to the applicant with notification of the award.
  • International students may be considered if they demonstrate adequate proficiency in English communication, as determined by Utah State University's Intensive English Language Institute.

  • Semester teaching assistantships are awarded for one semester at a time.
  • Few semester appointments are available. Semester teaching assistantships are awarded based on departmental need, student's time in the program, student's progress, student's teaching evaluations, instructor preference, and special circumstances.

  • A limited number of summer session teaching assistantships may be available.
  • Summer session teaching assistantships are awarded based on departmental need, student's preference, and suitability of student’s experience to course topic areas.
  • Summer session stipends are $3,000. A full-time assignment equals 20 hours per week for the 7-week session.

Domestic students must apply for residency during their first year. In addition to meeting other criteria, students must be registered full-time and be on a fellowship or assistantship to qualify. Students are responsible for fees and the student portion of health insurance.

The “Tuition Award Request Form” must be completed, signed, and submitted to the Staff Assistant for the Graduate Programs Committee prior to 1 June each year. A student will not receive a nonresident tuition waiver or instate tuition award unless an approved “Tuition Award Request Form” is submitted by the deadline. A student admitted after the deadline will be given sufficient time to submit a request form.

To qualify for tuition awards/waivers after the first year, a student must also have an approved “Program of Study” on file by the end of their second semester.

Subsidized Health Insurance is required for all graduate students on fellowships and assistantships, and is available through Student Health Services.

Graduate Degrees

School of Graduate Studies

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SACNAS

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International Students

Biology Graduate Student Association